Doctors tell us all the time how important it is to have core strength. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, the muscles in our core provide stability and support for nearly every movement we make.

Just as a strong physical core supports your entire body, a strong leadership core supports the health and stability of your ministry.

So, let me ask you this: Outside of you, who is your Core team of leaders—the people who help provide a stable center for your ministry? Who are you pouring into who can step into place when you can’t be there? Ministry was never meant to be carried alone. Ecclesiastes 4 reminds us that two are better than one and that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. We are stronger when we serve together.

Just a few weeks ago, my family experienced a scary medical emergency, and I couldn’t be there on Sunday. But I didn’t have to worry about who could teach, run slides, or make sure the tablets and radios were set up. In that moment, the value of our core team became more than a leadership idea. It became a gift to me and my family.

I am so thankful that several years ago, we began creating a team of Core leaders who could step in and support me. They don’t just help when I can’t be there; they also help make big and small decisions for our ministry, recruit volunteers, and brainstorm new ideas.

My team is made up of four leaders, all different ages—from their early 20s to their mid-60s. Cross-generational leadership is important in my book (but that’s a whole different topic), so let’s stay focused!

Over the last eight years, the leaders on this team have changed some, but I have continued pouring into them through monthly meetings—sometimes in person, but more recently, because of life, via Zoom. When we meet, we pray together, talk about the heart and needs of the ministry, prepare for what’s ahead, solve problems, and dream about what God might do next. We discuss our goals, yearly theme and verses, dreams, prayers, and upcoming events.

But my goal isn’t simply to teach them how to complete tasks. It’s to help them understand the ministry well enough to lead it with confidence, care, and ownership.

I train my leaders on how to run a Sunday from top to bottom:

• Setting up tablets and radios
• Turning on computers and sound
• Changing tablets between services
• Checking rooms for volunteers
• Checking Planning Center to see who’s serving
• Running ProPresenter
• Leading large group at each service

Now, being 100% honest here, we recently did an update, and I didn’t get a chance to show them everything. Thankfully, one of our pastors stepped in to help! And guess what? We’ve also poured into our kids so they can help run ProPresenter. WINNING!

Because we have invested in our Core team, I am confident that when emergencies happen or when I go on vacation, Sundays will run smoothly.

So, how can you develop a Core team?

Start by identifying volunteers or leaders who are dedicated to and invested in your ministry. Look for people who are:

• Faithful and dependable
• Teachable
• Aligned with the heart and vision of the ministry
• Able to care for and lead others

Maybe it’s only one person right now, or maybe it’s four. Take them out for coffee and explain that you’d like to create a core team, people you can pour into, invest in, and rely on in times of need.

You don’t have to hand over the entire ministry on day one. Start small. Give them opportunities to lead, offer feedback, and increase their responsibilities as trust and confidence grow.

They might look at you and say, “I thought you already did?”

But this is about making it official. Because emergencies happen. And KidMin leaders need breaks too.

When was the last time you took a vacation without worrying about what was happening back at church?

How strong is your core?

This week, write down the names of one or two people who might become part of your Core. Pray for them, and then invite one of them to coffee. Start building a Core that will strengthen your leaders, support your family, and help your ministry thrive.

I hope it makes your Sundays a little easier.

Jodie Slongo is the Kids Director at Stony Creek Church in Michigan, where she has spent more than a decade helping children and families grow in their faith. She is passionate about discipleship, volunteer leadership, and creating environments where kids can discover Jesus in meaningful ways. Jodie is also a wife, mom, and Christmas enthusiast who loves baking cookies for neighbors, spending time at the lake with her family, and making memories that matter. Her greatest joy is helping people connect with Jesus.